African violet plant named Corsaire

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct African violet named Corsaire, particularly characterized by its large pale pink flowers with darker red-purple center, the flowers being borne in a cluster above dark green foliage, profuse and intermittent year round flowering.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Africanviolet plant, botanically known as Saintpaulia ionantha, and hereinafterreferred to by the cultivar name Corsaire.

The new cultivar was referred to during the breeding and selectionprocess by the designation V7-E10-P, and is a product of a plannedbreeding program. The basic objective of the breeding program was tocreate a new African violet cultivar having profuse, large, light pink,slightly ruffled blooms above dark, green foliage. The new cultivar wasoriginated from a cross made in a controlled breeding program inHannover, Germany. The male and female parents are unknown at this time.

Corsaire was discovered and selected by me as a flowering plant withinthe progeny of the stated cross in a controlled environment inFallbrook, Calif. Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by leafcuttings, as performed by me at West Chicago, Ill. and Parrish, Fla. hasdemonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosedfor the new cultivar are firmly fixed and retained through successivegenerations of asexual reproduction.

Corsaire has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations inenvironment such as temperature, light intensity and day length. Thefollowing observations, measurements and values describe the newcultivar as grown in Parrish, Fla. under greenhouse conditions whichclosely approximate those generally used in commercial practice.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe basic characteristics of Corsaire which in combination distinguishthis African violet as a new and distinct cultivar:

(1) Very large pale pink flowers, with darker red-purple color incenters.

(2) Flowers are borne in a cluster above dark green foliage.

(3) Profuse flowering.

The new cultivar is most similar to Marta, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat.No. 3,610. Corsaire is principally distinguished from Marta by its palepink flowers borne on strong stems above the dark green foliage.

The accompanying color photographic drawing shows a typical specimenplant of the new cultivar. The colors appearing in the photograph are astrue as possible with color illustrations of this type.

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Color Chart (R.H.S.), except where general colorsof ordinary significance are referred to. Color values were taken under5000 foot candles of natural light at approximately 12:00 P.M. inParrish, Fla.

BOTANICAL CLASSIFICATION: Saintpaulia ionantha, Ramat. cv. Corsaire.

Parentage:

Male parent.--Unknown.

Female parent.--Unknown.

Propagation: The new cultivar holds its distinguishing characteristicsthrough successive propagations by leaf cuttings.

Plant: From 6 cm. to 9 cm. tall when grown in pots, and approximately 24cm. in diameter when fully grown. The growth rate is vigorous, and thegeneral shape of the full grown plant is round.

Leaves:

Quantity.--Abundant.

Shape.--Cordate with crenate margins.

Diameter.--5-8 cm.

Texture.--Pubescent, glossy.

Ribs and veins.--Pinnate.

Color (upperside).--147A.

Color (underside).--59A.

Petioles.--2-8 cm. in length.

Flowers:

Buds.--Size: Up to 1 cm. in diameter. Shape: Round. Rate of opening:Normal. Color: Ranging from 70B to 70D.

Sepals.--Shape: Lanceolate. Color: 183B with a tint of 147D.

Phyllaries.--2, Lanceolate. Color (upperside): 147A. Color (underside):59A.

Calyx.--Shape: Funnel. Size: About 12 mm. in diameter.

Peduncle.--Length: 3-7 cm. Character: Rigid, erect. Color: 183A with atint of 147D.

Individual flowers.--Number of petals: 5. Size: 25-47 mm. in diameterand 10-15 mm. deep. Shape: Cup shaped when bloom first opens, becomingflat with maturity. Color: Upperside: 73D with hints of 72B in center.Underside: 65C.

Borne.--Cymose clusters form on peduncles 3-7 cm. long.

Flowering habit.--Flowers profusely and intermittently year round withblooms lasting 2-3 weeks after which petals dry up but do not drop. A21/2" plantlet grown in a 10 cm. pot finishes in 9-12 weeks.

Reproductive organs.--Stamens: 2, borne singly on one side of the ovary.Anthers basifixed. Anthers: 2 mm.×2 mm.×yellow. Filaments: 2-3 mm.,yellow. Pollen color: Yellow.

Pistils.--Number: 1, 4-7 mm. long. Styles: 1. Stigma: sticky, white.Ovaries: superior.

Roots.--Fibrous and fine.

Disease resistance.--No African violet diseases observed to date.

General observations: Corsaire is principally characterized by its largeflowers which are borne in a tight bouquet above the dark green foliage.The flower color is a pale pink with a darker red-purple center, andoccasional darkening around the ruffled petal edges.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of African violet namedCorsaire, as illustrated and described, and particularly characterizedby its large, pale pink flowers with darker red-purple center, theflowers being borne in a cluster above dark green foliage, profuse andintermittent year round flowering.